The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-04-21
TEMPORARY STARS.
rbair Goings and Comings In
Mysterious Space.
Ma Wonderful Connecting Link. "Eta
Argus"--The Chinese "Pioneer" OF
ieS B. C.-Brahe's and Kepler's
Stars-Andromeda's Wonder.

The appearance of a new star in the
midst Of the great nebula in Andromeda
offers a fitting opportunity to say few
words on stars of a similar character
which have from time to time blazed
forth in theheavens. Although the ap-
pearance of a new star is unquestion-
sbly marvellous event, the existence
Of stars whose light varies is a WELL
known astronomical fact. Patient OBJ
arvation of the heavens during many
centuries has shown that there are hun
dreds Of such stars; and every year is
adding new members to the already
lengthy list The great difference be-
tween variable and temporary stars is,
ihstin the case of the former their
period and maximum and minimum
brightness are known. In other words,
continued observation reveals the fact
that an ordinary variable star changes
from greatest brilliancy to least bril-
hancy in certain definite time, differ
snt for different stars, and attains and
iades e, though it may be with slight
iregularities, a certain definite maxi
mum and minimum brightness. 1t is
therefore possible, after these points
have been determined, to predict with
tolerable success the conduct of the star
during a longer or shorter period, ac-
eordIng to theaccuracy of the observa-
tens. There are, it is true, variable
stars which display the most remarkable
eecentricity. The most wonderful OBJ
lef OF this class is star in the southern
heavens situated in the Keyhole nebula,
and known as Eta Argus. To give full
PARTICULARS Of this star would occupy too
much space; suffice it to say. that from
eelng comparatively faint object,
1gradually increased in splendor, till,
al'erpassing through numerous strange
aaetnations. it outshone Canopus, and
sas surpassed only by Sirius. 1t re-
named thus brilliant for some time;s
out at length faded away till it was lost
ealmost all eyes, and now shines as a
asr barely visible to the unaided vision.
ass OF this class form, doubtless, a
tlnd OF bridge between the more regu-
hrly variable stars and those which
suddenly blaze forth in the heavens.
Hooking back over the history of
xmporary stars, we are struck first
s''n the rarity of their appearance, and
\ asas with the very meager accounts of
e nem which have come down to us.
ia0ugh there are said to be frequent
'eleteaees in the Chinese annals to the
81 ssppearanee OF these objects, the first
Als'0rlcally recorded account of such an
\ ,ssaa occurred in the year 125 B. c.
= may mfer, without much risk of
ale'' 9 that Princes and potentates, with
sela.acterlstically undue sense of their
" ssa Importance, looked upon this OBJ
~ ~ blazing forth some event in their
saA petty career. 1t had, luckily, a
.0's ,as useful and lasting effect, for Hip
is.'nus, +, an astronomer of the school of
: sssaanorla, was led by its appearance
! ssss0nstructt = the first recorded catalogue
: : le stars. Over and above this fact,
as..., + aaow little or nothing of it; and
49, s..'ess y mad it not come down to us
i is,s'ea mas with the nameo Hipparchus,
:. : memory would long since have sunk
IL. ~ oOiivlon. The next star which
Il. g aorth IN the heavens was seen in
3. eH Joy A. D., and was situated
ss 49, .ae brightest star in the constella-
a.. :. 'ne Eagle. We know nothing
i j 'aI'ner than that for three weeks
al a'neo g brilliant as Venus and
s.. ~ gradually faded away till it be-
quite invisible.
a., . ] ~ TWO most remarkable of these
s;vslr stars appeared in compar-
d.s. modern times, and have been
,s,ss 'ueo to us by the two celebrated
4 ua'efs s, Tycho Br.he and Kepler.
ps,,ss sssts q equal hrilliancy have APP
a. sl !, slnce, and in looking back on
h,. = sne student of astronomy can not
snn sfet that the means of obserya-
se hs, sse at that time so meager that
M 8 ave 3 only the bare account Of their
ems;. ufaiha1cy and the time they
ssr see visible. The former of these
e,ss;p ppeared in the constellation of
0pela in the year 159o Tvobn -